Step for railway-cars and the like.



J. M. DIXON.

STEP FOB RAILWAY CARS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILE-D JULY 17. I916- 1,21 9,443. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

JOHN M. DIXON, OF ARLINGTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO J, H. JONES, OF

DENTON, TEXAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1917.

Application filed July 1'7, 1916. Serial No. 109,759.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. DIXON, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Arlington, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steps for Railway-Cars and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steps for. railway cars for vehicles and the like and has for its object the provision of means whereby an extensible step is supplied, the said extensible step being foldable with,relation to the stationary steps and adapted to nest therewith so that the extensible or supplemental steps will constitute the tread surfaces of the stationary steps when the said extensible step is folded, thus producing an extensible step without in any way interfering with the steps now in ordinary use, it being possible by the application of this invention to steps in ordinary use, to transform the same and supply them with the extensible feature by a simple and inexpensive expedient.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel means for manipulating the extensible or movable step with relation to the stationary step so that it may be opened or nested with relation to the said stationary steps by pull on the operating means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of a platform of a car with the stationary and extensibl steps in section;

Fig. 2 illustrates a view in elevation of the step showing the tread lines of the stationary and folded steps dotted;

Fig. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the platform and the stationary and extensible steps, the extensible steps being swung back on to the stationary steps; and

Fig. l illustrates a view in front elevation of the said steps.

In these drawings 5 denotes a fragment of a car, 6 a platform and 7 stationary steps of ordinary construction. The extensible steps 8 are provided with plates 9 which are pivoted on the rod 10 extending through the sides 11 of the stationary steps. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the extensible steps are in their two positions of adjustment viz: extended and nested with relation to the stationary steps and these illustrations show the utility of the invention and the manner in which the inverted extensible steps supplement the tread surfaces of the stationary steps when folded. The structure is strengthened to a very perceptible degree when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the steps of the stationary section are protected from snow and ice which might form'during a rain in cold weather.

As a means for operating or manipulating the extensible steps with relation to the stationary steps, the side of the stationary step is provided with a standard 12 secured thereto by fastenings 13 and by the rod 10 which has a nut let applied thereto. The upper end of the standard has a pivot or axle 15 for a sheave pulley 16 over which the flexible connection 17 is run, the said flexible connection having its outer end anchored to the end edge of the lowermost step of the extensible steps, as shown at 18.

By pulling on the inner end of the flexible connection, the extensible steps are swung outwardly and the momentum is sufficient to carry them beyond the axis on which they swing and they, therefore gravitate to the open or extended position, as shown in Fig. 1.

When the extensible steps are to be folded or nested with relation to the stationary steps, pull on the inner end of the flexible connection will result in elevating the said extensible steps swinging them on their pivot and returning them to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Thus, by a very inexpensive and simple construction, means are supplied for operating the device, such operation being positive in its nature.

I claim In car steps, stationary steps, extensible steps foldable with relation to the stationary steps, said stationary steps having sides, a rod held by the said sides, plates on the extensible steps swingingly mounted on the said rod, a standard anchored to the sta- In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my tionary steps; a sheave pulley journaled at the upper end of the said standard, a flexible connection engaging the said sheave pulley and having its outer end secured to one of the extensible steps for operating the said extensible steps.

JOHN M. DIXON. I

Witnessesz- I V Jon PoY'ii nnss, J. W. ECI-IOLS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Viashing'ton, D. G.

signature in the'presence of tWo Witnesses. V 

